CALCIFYING EPITHELIOMA (PILOMATRIXOMA) OF THE HEAD AND NECK - ANALYSIS OF 37 CASES

Objective: To review all cases of pilomatrixoma (calcifying epitheliom a) of the head and neck published in Japanese dental journals 1977-199 4, Design: Retrospective review, Setting: University hospital, Japan, Subjects: 37 Patients with 38 tumours, mean age 23 years, female: male ratio 2.4:1, Interventions: Enucleation alone (n=29, 78%), excision i ncluding covering skin (n=7, 19%), or excision including superficial l obe of parotid (n=1, 3%), Main outcome measure: Presentation, site, re currence, and histological features, Results: Two patients had multipl e tumours (5%), Most of the tumours were firm nodules covered with nor mal skin varying in size from 5 to 30 mm, The most common site was the preauricular region; 22 (58%) were in the anterior part, The follow u p period ranged from 7 to 43 months during which there was only one re currence, Tumours were encapsulated and solid composed of either shado w and basophilic cells or shadow cells alone, and the stroma contained varying amounts of calcification, ossification, and keratinization, C onclusions: The diagnosis should be suspected when the mass is adheren t to the skin but not fixed to the underlying tissue, It is difficult to distinguish between benign and malignant tumours by imaging methods alone, so the recommended treatment must be complete excision includi ng adherent skin.